Improvement in hay and straw cutters



W. HENSHAW.

Hay and Straw Cutter.

Patented April 3, 1866 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E;

WILLIAM HENSHAW, OF SPENCER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAY AND STRAW CUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,614, dated April 3, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itkuown that 1, WILLIAM HENSHAW, of Spencer, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinHay-Gutters and I do hereby declare thatthe following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective'view of my improved hay-cutter, the knife and its frame being shown down in black lines and raised in red lines. Fig. 2 represents a secsion through the cutter-frame, cutters, and'the standards to which the cutter-frame is hinged; and Fig. 3 represents a front-side View of the cutter-frame and its cutter detached from the machine and turned up endwise.

In the drawings, A represents the hay-box, which is supported by legs, B, B, and O. The front part of the hay-box is covered, as seen at D. The front end of the hay-box A fits into and is fastened in between flanges cast upon the back side of the iron frame E, to the front of which is fastened the stationary cutter a. Frame E is also cast so as encompass the outer sides of the upper ends of legs B B. There is also cast with it arm F, which, in connection with the arm F, forms the supports between which the knife-frame G is hinged, as seen at I). Knife-frame G is made of castiron, and has a thick curved rib, H, which works between the flanges c cupon the inside of arms F F. Upon the lower inside of knifeframeG is fastened theknife or cutter cl, which works in connection with knife a. The top of knife-frame Gis cored or hollowed outfas seen at 6, while a wooden handle, I, is fastened to the elevated parts f f of frame G, as indicated in the drawings. Two screws, 1 9, pass through the lower part of frame G, so that their points will press against the knife or cutter d, whereby the cutting-face of cutter d can be adjusted to work in contact with cutter a with great precision.

J is the front cast-iron part of the frame, which is attached to the top of legs B B. Arm F is cast with the part J as well as the horizontal plate or table K. The frame part, J, is fastened, by screws or bolts h h, to the legsB B,and there are holes 5 ii in it through which to reach and turn the screws by which the stationary knife a is fastened to frame E. Frame J is also provided with two adjustingscrews, 75 k, the points of which strike against the frame E, and by which the center of frame J can be sprung back together with arm F. In this way, as the machine is used, and the flanges c c and rib H wear, screws 7a 7: can be loosened, thereby causing frame G and its knife 41 to work close up to knife or cutter a the same as when first put into operation. The point of the cutter-frame G is provided with a lip m, which strikes when down upon the rubber spring a, which rests upon the top of frame J.

A rod 0 is fitted to work up and down in leg B, its lower end being turned down so as to pass through coiled or spiral spring 19, while its shoulder s rests upon the top of spring 19, as indicated in black and red full and dotted lines, Fig. l.

The operation is as follows; The operator fills box A with hay, straw, or whatever is to be cut, and then takes his position back of arm F, where he can move the material to be out along with his left hand, whilehe operates the cutter-frame G and its cutter d with his right hand. When the cutter-frame G is down it strikes and rests upon therubbern, whereby sudden jars are prevented. Again, when frame G is forced down it forces down rod 0, thereby compressing the coiled or spiral spring 1), which in turn expands and throws up rod 0, and that in turn elevates cutter-frame G and its knife (I, so that but little effort is required on the part of the operator to raise the cutterframe G.

This class of hay-cutters is often preferred by reason of its simplicity and ease of operation. By my improvements many of the previous objections are obviated and the machine rendered more durable. It is also more easily adjusted.

Table K supports the material in a horizontal position while it is being acted upon by the cutters a-and 61, thus rendering the cut more certain and perfect.

Frame G is so formed that it combines great strength with a comparatively small amount of metal. Brace L supports the lower end of the rib H.

Having described my improved hay-cutter,

frame G, of the lip m, rubber n, rod 0, and spring 19, as and for the purposes stated.

5. The combination, with frame-piece J, of the arm F and table K, when cast together, as shown and described.

6. The combination of the adjustingscrews g g with frame G and knife 61, as and for the purposes set forth.

WILLIAM HENSHAW.

Witnesses:

THos. H. DODGE, H. L. FULLER. 

